Friday, December 26, 2014

Six Things

I long ago lost interest in pouncing on those famous "teaching moments." Far more important are "learning moments." Rarely are those the same moments.

I used to worry what other people thought about me. Then, for a long time, I tried to stop caring. Now my main concern is what I think about the other people; from there my struggle is to love them.

As a boy, I thought the excitement of Christmas morning came from the presents. As I got older, I understood that more than presents, it is about the magic, something I could only understand after I stopped believing in it. The way to get the magic back is to create it for others.

The difference between my neurosis and yours is that mine makes sense.

Everyone, all the time, is doing the best they can.

The main distinction between adults and children is wisdom. I cannot pass mine on to you, nor can you pass yours on to me. Wisdom is made of things that can only be acquired through living for yourself, playing, and the wisest among us are those who have fallen down the most.

I put a lot of time and effort into this blog. If you'd like to support me please consider a small contribution to the cause. Thank you!

3 comments:

I love this. And really the difference between people of *all* ages is wisdom. I'm 27, and feel a huge growth in wisdom from when I was in my early twenties. But I can feel compassion for my younger, less wise self because as you say, everyone is doing the best they can :)

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This is my personal blog and is not a publication of the Woodland Park Cooperative Preschools. I put a lot of time and effort into it. If you'd like to support me please consider a small contribution to the cause. Thank you!

About Teacher Tom

I am a preschool teacher, writer, speaker, artist and the author of "A Parent's Guide To Seattle".
For the past 15 years, I've taught preschool at the Woodland Park Cooperative School. The children come to us as 2-year-olds in diapers and leave as "sophisticated" 5-year-olds ready for kindergarten.
The cooperative school model allows me to work very closely with families in a true community setting.
I intend to teach at Woodland Park for the rest of my life. I love the kids and I love the families. It's an incredibly rewarding job.